Princely State of Satudad Vavdi, also known as Satudad state, was one of the former native states during the rule of the British Empire in India. During the early 19th century, the region was appointed as one of the princely states of India under the indirect rule of the British administration. The taluka was scattered over a total area of 12 sq miles and is a part of the Indian state of Gujarat. The region comprised of a total population of 1,959 in the year 1931. The taluka of Satudad Vavdi included 2 villages and was located in Dhrafa Thana. The territory was situated in the western Kathiawar, around 22 miles towards the west of the city of Gondal. Satudad was an enclave in eastern Nawanagar. The former princely state was bounded by the princely state of Virpur in the northeast and by a remote block of territory that belonged to the princely state of Gondal in the southwest.
History of Princely State of Satudad Vavdi
The princely state of Satudad Vavdi was claimed by more than one native prince who were formally addressed as shareholders. There were 87 such shareholders, including talukdars and bhagdars, in the region. The shareholders of the state were primarily Jadeja Rajputs of the Kana branch, who were offshoots of the ruling family of the stat of Nawanagar. The rule of male primogeniture, by which the first born or eldest child of the same parents the first born or eldest child of the same parents, to the exclusion of all others, was followed in the succession of the throne or gadi of the princely state of Satudad.
Administration of Princely State of Satudad Vavdi
The erstwhile princely state of Satudad was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of the Western India States Agency. Later the region was merged with the state of Gujarat. The state of Satudad Vavdi was also a part of Dhrafa Thana and was under the administrative control of the erstwhile Western Kathiawar Agency. Dhrafa Thana covered a total area of 66 sq miles in the year 1931 and comprised of a total population of 14,067. The territory included 4 estates in western Kathiawar and all the estates were practically enclaves within the princely state of Nawanagar and geologically detached from each another.
Satudad Vavdi state was mainly a non jurisdictionary princely state of India. The Thanadar of the princely state of Dhrafa exercised jurisdictional authority on the native state. Satudad state paid annual tribute to the princely state of Junagadh. According to the Attachment Scheme of 1943, the princely state of Lunagiri was attached to the princely state of Nawanagar.
Accession of Princely State of Satudad Vavdi
After the political withdrawal of the British Supremacy and the partition of India on 15th August 1947, the princely state of Satudad Vavdi was acceded to the independent Dominion of India, which was also known as Union of India.